HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2024-09-24RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado September 24, 2024
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town of
Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in the
Board Room in said Town of Estes Park on the 24th day of September,
2024.
Board: Mayor Hall, Mayor Pro Tem Cenac, Trustees Brown,
Hazelton, Igel, Lancaster, and Younglund
Attending: Mayor Hall, Trustees Brown, Hazelton, Igel, Lancaster, and
Younglund
Also Attending: Town Administrator Machalek, Town Attorney Kramer, and
Deputy Town Clerk Beers
Absent: None
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
USE OF 6E FUNDS FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE.
Tuition Assistance has been prioritized within the framework of6E funding and identified
as a key element to stabilizing and building childcare capacity within the Estes Valley.
Manager Bangs stated through efficiently layering subsidies and tuition assistance
programs, childcare providers could increase revenue by charging tuition at or close to
the actual cost of care. Providers are currently unable to establish fees at a rate to
recover the actual cost of care. Highlights of the Estes Valley current childcare
landscape through the Estes Valley Childcare Needs Assessment reflected: nearly half
of families in the school district are considered "low-income"; the majority of families
work in education, health, or social assistance; approximately 100 children in middle-
income, working families need childcare; 62% of parents with children under six (6) both
work; and 93% of survey respondents who did not have their child enrolled in care, said,
they would if the care was available at a cost they could afford,. Current demand for
infant, toddler and preschool identified a lack of supply for each age group. The Larimer
County Childcare Fund (LCCF) was established to serve households with an income
greater than the Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP) supports. Through
collaboration with the Early Childhood Council of Larimer County (ECCLC), the Town
could build upon the existing platform and allocate grant funds to increase the eligibility
of middle-income working families to receive assistance. She reviewed a middle-income
level model, the existing programs available to families for care funding, and programs
established in other communities including Boulder, Aspen and Breckenridge. She
highlighted the importance of transparency and access to information for use of 6E
funds. Staff sought Board feedback on prioritizing the use of $50,000 in Buell grant
funds for cost modeling and to develop a program in collaboration with the ECCLC. Rut
Miller/EVICS Executive Director, Angelina Kirkpatrick/EVICS Program Director, and
Kylie Myers/EVICS Childcare Resource Specialist spoke regarding the use of a new
application and data collection software; EVICS' efforts in serving families with an 80%
AMI and have systems in place to expand the program further; EVICS would not
administer a platform fee or startup cost if they administer the tuition assistance
program; how their co-pay calculation methods consider individual family needs versus
a flat percentage to better suit the needs of the community; and they contract with
family, friend and neighbor care who provide weekend care for families. Director Miller
spoke regarding the support of ECCLC and identified barriers with the BridgeCare
software which serves Larimer County.
Board comments and questions have been summarized: Clarification was requested on
whether 6E funds can be used for families who work outside of the Estes Valley; how
the barriers with the Larimer County BridgeCare software impacts the partnership with
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Town Board Study Session - September 24, 2024 - Page 2
ECCLC; how staff identified the cost of care figure; how providers are absorbing the
loss in income; what the total cost of making care affordable for the entire community;
and if the Board wants funds to go to licensed or non-licensed providers. The Board
was in support of utilizing Buell grant funds toward cost modeling and to develop a
program.
NOISE ORDINANCE.
Town Administrator Machalek stated over the past year, the Town has received
feedback from members of the public expressing concerns with the current noise
ordinance. Specific concerns include the lack of quantitative decibel standard, the ability
of the Town engineer to issue permits for overnight construction work instead of the
Town Board, and the lack of enforcement of the unreasonable noise standard. Staff
were directed by the Board to explore options for making changes to the Town's
existing noise regulations. At the June 11, 2024 study session, the Board indicated
continued support for a hybrid approach to noise enforcement, utilizing both an
unreasonable noise standard and a decibel-based standard. They also stated support in
moving the responsibility for approving overnight construction work permits to the Town
Board. Staff presented three options and requested Board feedback.
• Use the limits described in State Law Section 25-12-103 C.R.S., measured 25
feet from the property line during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for
residential zone districts at 55 decibels, commercial zone district at 60 decibels,
light industrial zone district at 70 decibels and industrial zone district at 80
decibels with a decrease of five (5) decibels for each zone district during the
hours of 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
• Use the limits from the Town's last decibel-based ordinance (2016), measured 25
feet from the property line regardless of zone district and hours of the day at 80
decibels.
• Articulate different limits based on Town Board judgement. A Decibel Level
Comparison Chart from the American Academy of Audiology was provided for
reference.
In addition, staff requested Board interest in: replacing blanket exception for "Town
authorized or sponsored events, including, but not limited to, parades, fireworks,
displays, concerts, and events at Stanley Park, Bond Park, or Performance Park", with a
requirement for annual approval of these exceptions by the Board; establishing a
variance process which would allow the Board to consider exceptions to the noise
ordinance; establishing specific decibel-based limitations on waste collection or the use
of domestic power tools and/or lawn and garden equipment; establishing an escalating
fine structure for multiple tickets within a one-year period and any other new provisions
not identified. Decibel-based enforcement would require investment in both decimeters
and training. Staff stated any noise regulations should create a balance between
residential areas and commercial operations and highlighted other municipalities with
decibel noise regulations continue to issue the majority of tickets using the
measurement of unreasonable noise.
Board comments and questions have been summarized: whether staff foresee the
Police Department taking more proactive approach in addressing noise; it was
requested staff retrieve data on noise violations including repeat offenders; if
enforcement had increased since the beginning of these discussions; concerns were
heard for the level of wind noise at 5 mph and support was heard for using 15 mph wind
considerations; value of measuring from the complaint's property versus 25 feet from
the noise infraction; defining the measurement of decibel limits at the receiving property
based on the limits in that location; and majority support was heard to change the hours
to 10:00 p.m. or 11:00 p.m.; majority support was heard to change variance approval to
the Town Board; the Board was split on moving variance approval from the Town
Engineer; support was heard for the Board approving Town sponsored events annually;
questioned how staff would calculate and measure the wind component; duration of the
noise may be a factor in determining unreasonable noise; exception for power tools
during daytime hours; goals and opportunity to incentivize changes in behavior;
comments were heard regarding the location of residential properties near commercial
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Town Board Study Session - September 24, 2024 - Page 3
operations; and clarification was requested on exceptions to emergencies and
escalation for repeat offenders. The Board was in agreement to schedule a report and
discussion item at the October 8, 2024 regular meeting to further discuss the noise
ordinance.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
Town Administrator Machalek requested and it was determined the Noise Ordinance
discussion would be scheduled as a Report and Discussion item at the October 8, 2024
regular meeting, the Rooftop Rodeo Update would be scheduled for October 22, 2024,
the Multimodal Transportation and Transit Development Plans for November 26, 2024
and Visit Estes Park Dark Skies Initiative on December 10, 2024.
COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
The public in attendance for the Noise Ordinance were encouraged to provide public
comment during the beginning of the regular meeting.
There being no further business, Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 6:56 p.m.^ ^v
ictoria Beers, DepuTy'Town Clerk